Pistorius, 26, bowed his head and wept, while supporters shouted “Yes” before
20 relatives and friends formed a circle to pray.

The Olympic and Paralympic hero was driven to his uncle’s home, where he had
his first bath in eight days since being arrested for shooting Reeva in his
bathroom.

Pistorius was released on a surety of one million rand, about £74,000. Under
his bail conditions, he must surrender his passport and any firearms, and is
banned from returning to his luxury home.

He is also banned from drinking alcohol and must report to police twice a
week. The next court hearing is scheduled for June 4.

Pistorius’ uncle Arnold, speaking on behalf of the family, said: “We are
relieved that Oscar got bail today, but at the same time we are in mourning
for the death of Reeva with her family.”

He said the family were grateful to their legal team and the magistrate,
adding: “We know Oscar’s version of what happened that tragic night and we
know that that is the truth and that will prevail in the coming court case.”

Double amputee Pistorius, famed for running on carbon fibre blades, claims he
jumped out of bed when he heard a noise at 3am and fired his gun through a
locked bathroom door after mistaking Reeva, 29, for an intruder. But Mr Nair
said: “I have difficulty in appreciating the accused did not ascertain the
whereabouts of his girlfriend when he got off the bed.

“I have difficulty with the accused not seeking to verify who was in the
toilet when he could have asked.

“Why did the deceased and the accused not seek to escape through the bedroom
door?”

Police say Reeva locked herself in the bathroom to escape from either an
argument or her gun-wielding boyfriend.

But the magistrate also attacked errors in the police investigation, and the
bumbling evidence given by detective Hilton Botha, who was replaced as lead
investigator on Thursday — and charged with seven counts of attempted murder
himself over a shooting in 2011.

Outside court, Medupe Simasiku, of South Africa’s National Prosecuting
Authority, said: “The bail application does not mean that this person is
acquitted.”

Prosecutor Gerrie Nel, who argued Pistorius had the “money, means and motive”
to flee abroad, said the athlete’s version of events was “improbable” while
the state’s case was based on “objective facts”.

Pistorius, who says he was “deeply in love” with Reeva, faces life in prison
if convicted of premeditated murder. The trial may take more than a year to
reach court.